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WACC-Foothill Division football preview: Dominant programs meet in powerhouse league

By Phil JensenOakland Tribune

Posted:
08/22/2012 09:38:33 PM PDT

Updated:
08/23/2012 06:50:30 AM PDT

PREDICTED FINISH

1. Bishop O'Dowd

2. Encinal

3. Berkeley

4. San Leandro

5. Castro Valley

6. Hayward

Realignment has produced quite a interesting group of football teams in the first season of the West Alameda County Conference-Foothill Division.

It certainly has its share of dominant programs. It not only has three defending league champions; those teams were all undefeated in league play last year. Bishop O'Dowd High was 7-0 in the Hayward Area Athletic League, Berkeley was 6-0 in the Alameda Contra Costa Athletic League and Encinal was 7-0 in the Bay Shore Athletic League.

Bishop O'Dowd has the returning HAAL Offensive Player of the Year in Dominic Miroglio, and other returning first-team all-league Dragons include wide receiver/kick returner Dominic Gomes and defensive back Kevin King. A young Encinal squad will be quarterbacked by a Ve'e again -- for the last two years it's been Andrew Ve'e, but Andrew has graduated and this year Austin Ve'e will be the Jets' signal-caller.

Berkeley also is young and talented, and it will be helped by the powerful foot of kicker Sam Boyden. "Right now, 38 yards on in is a green light. How many high school coaches can say that?" Berkeley coach Fred Sims said.

OUTLOOK: Sims doesn't have a huge squad as far as numbers, but said it's a talented group. "Its football IQ is good, even though it's young. There's no fluff; it's quality from the first to the last guy," he said. The Yellowjackets have six returners on offense and seven on defense. The biggest guy on the offensive line is talented tight end Xavier Nelson (6-foot-4, 235 pounds). Five running backs will try to replace the big-play capability of James and Sir-Devonta Stewart.

OUTLOOK: Miroglio, who has orally committed to UCLA to play baseball, has two years of varsity starting experience at quarterback entering this season. The Dragons have four starters returning on both offense and defense. "I think we have a chance to be pretty good," Nickerson said. "It depends how we play early in the season. We have some key positions to fill. It will be interesting how those guys step up in those key positions."

OUTLOOK: The Trojans graduated a lot of talent from both interior lines and linebacker, so those are areas that need to be addressed. But Castro Valley still returns five offensive starters. The Trojans have multiple options at the running back position including Taylor, a transfer from Arroyo who played quarterback for the Dons. Lima is a returning first-team all-league kicker. Middle linebacker Nick Lerschen is a player to watch.

OUTLOOK: The Jets are young at certain positions, but have a strong nucleus of veterans. "I definitely still expect to go out there and be a winning team," Tenorio said. Encinal returns five starters on both offense and defense, including two-way starter Aaron Ve'e, a first-team all-BSAL pick last season at offensive lineman. Sails and Carrigan will lead the Jets' ballcarriers, as the Jets will look to replace the offense provided by Trodder, Banks and Andrew Ve'e last year.

OUTLOOK: The Farmers have a wealth of returning starters, including six on offense. Offensively, Pulu runs the veer well, and he also leads the defense. Other returning two-way starters include Meafou and Mahe. Carter will get his share of carries at running back. "If we can stay healthy, I think we can surprise a lot of people," Redemer said.

OUTLOOK: Besides losing a number of players to graduation, the Pirates suffered a blow in the offseason when two-way starting linemen Eddie and Moses Ngungutau moved to Texas. But the Pirates have rebounded this summer with good line play. "The lineman have stepped up and done a good job and I think we have some special backs also," Bowers said. Bell will get a lot of carries this season. The defense is led by Barron.